Tape dispenser



July 1949- i w. E. GERBING I 2,476,593

TAPE DISPENSER Filed Sept. 4, 1945 127 VEF'Z is?" W/LLAeO f. Gees/Na Patented July 19, 194

UNITED sures TAPE DISPENSER Willard G tting, ParkRidge, Il l., assigiior to A'i hii Kdh siv Tapes, Inc., Michigan City, Ind., a corporation bf Indiana application September 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,305 1 oiairn. (01. 242-555) The present inventionrelatesto -a -tape dispenser and more particularly, although not exclusively, to a dispenser for pressure sensitive tape.

The present invention concerns itself with a molded, two-piece dispenser, preferably made of plastic material, which may be easily opened to receive a 'spool of tape, and easily closed, and wherein the parts comprising the same are held together by a snug slip {it against any but wilful separation.

While the invention is herein illustrated as being circula-r in plan, it is not so limited, as it may be made in other shapes and forms, if desired.

An objector thepresent invention is to provide a two-piece tape dispenser, economical to manufacture, attractive in appearance and emcient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two pie'ce dispenser wherein the pieces are held together against any but wilful separation by a snug slip fit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a -ctimpact dispenser for pressure sensitive tape having a severing strip or edge for separating a piece of tape of desired length from the spool. V V

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a small, convenient dispenser for pressure sensitive tape, which may be held in one hand while the other hand draws out the tape to desired length an 'severs it against the severing strip or edge. e

The present invention has for an additional object the provision of a two-piece dispenser for tape, which may be made of plastic material, and may be colored if desired, with the pieces colored alike or in contrast.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a tape dispenser which will be an attractive adjunct to a desk.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and, the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is an elevational side view;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view;

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line IV IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view. 7

The drawing will now be explained.

The illustrated dispenser includes one piece, a top member A, and another piece, a bottom member B.

The dispenser is preferably made of molded plastic material and preferably in cylindrical shape.

The upper part A, as may be observed in Figure 4, has an outer annular wall HI and an inher annular wall ll, spaced inwardly from the outer wall. The axial length of the inner wall H is less than that of the outer wall it. The outer wall It is provided with a vertieal slot 12 which serves as an exit for the tape drawn mm the spool C within the dispenser. Adjaiz'ent the slot l2 the outer Wall it is formed with a boss I3 carrying a vertically disposed cutter edge er strip I4. As will be noted, the cutter edge or strip is spaced outwardly from the wall It so as to leave enough of the end of the strip 'e'i'rposed between the exit slot 12 and the (flutter edge I' l so as to be easily grasped for drawing but the strip to the length desired, when more tape is needed. This tape end is indicated at 15 in Figure 5.

As a means of adornment the central portien of the upper part A may be raised at 23.

Referring to Figure 4, the lower or bottom part B is formed with an annular bottom closure I 6 having an upstanding marginal flange I'l. Rising from the annular bottom [6 the member has a convergent wall [8 merging into an annular flange Hi from which rises a cylindrical collar 29.

When the two parts, A and B, are fitted together, the outer wall It) snugly fits inside the flange H of the lower member B, and the collar 20' of the lower member B snugly fits inside the circular inner wall ll of the upper member A. When the parts are assembled the lower margin of the inner wall ll of the member A rests on the shoulder I!) of the lower member B, as may be observed.

The fit of the outer wall [0 against the flange l1 and the fit of the collar 26 against the inner surface of the inner wall I I is a snug tight fit sufficient to hold the two parts together against any but wilful separation.

It will be noted that this construction provides a dispenser which is very pleasing on its exterior and in fact may be said to amount to an ornamental object.

The construction of the lower member B, in

3 the manner stated, furnishes an inner hollow space, which is that within the collar 20, in which a thumb or finger of the user may be inserted for more easily holding the dispenser while withdrawing tape from it.

In order to prevent relative rotative movement between the members A and B the flange ll of the lower member 13 is notched at 2| sufilciently to receive the circumferential width of the boss [3, the notch and the boss thus providing interengageable elements for preventing relative rotation of the parts.

To insert a spool or reel of pressure sensitive tape in the dispenser, the two parts are separated by a pull. The reel or spool C is then applied over the outer surface of the inner wall ll of the upper member A, as a hub, with the score 22 of the spool about the hub. The upper member with the spool C added is then held in upside-down position and the lower member B applied by slipping it over the upper member, in upside-down position, whereupon the collar 2i) fits within the inner wall II and the flange l1 fits about the margin of the outer wall 10. When the two parts are together, in fitted relationship, the shoulder 18 of the lower member B serves as a ledge or bearing for the core 22 of the spool C, as may be observed in Figure 4.

It will .be observed that the dispenser of the present invention consists only of two parts, held together by a snug slip fit. Interengageable elements are provided to prevent relative rotation of the parts when assembled.

The spool of tape C may be readily slipped over the inner wall I l as a hub, the end of the tape is then threaded through the slot 1 2 and the upper and lower parts connected, When the spool is exhausted, the parts may be separated, the old core of the spool removed, and a new spool applied, with the end of the tape led through the slot, and then the parts reassembled.

It will be noted that the dispenser of the pres ent invention is easy to separate for replacement of spools and easy to assemble. Furthermore, the construction is such that the dispenser may be easily held in one hand, and the other hand used to draw out the tape to desired length, whereupon the tape is severed against the cutting edge or strip i 4. There is enough left of the strip, between the slot l2 and the cutting edge M, to be grasped when another piece of tape is needed.

The dispenser might be colored, if desired, both parts bein colored the same, or the two parts being in contrasting colors. I

It is to be understood that the shape of the receptacle may be varied from the cylindrical shape shown without losing any of the advantages or benefits of the dispenser.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

A dispenser for pressure sensitive tape comprising a molded two piece structure circular in plan, one piece as an upper piece having a substantially flat top with a depending peripheral flange and a depending centrally disposed cylindrical flange inwardly of the peripheral flange as a hub for receiving a tape spool, said peripheral flange havin a vertically disposed exit slot for the tape and having a vertically disposed boss ad jacent said slot supporting a vertically disposed cutter, the other piece as a lower piece having a flat ring-like bottom with an upstanding outer peripheral flange to tightly receive the peripheral flange of said upper piece and having an upstandin inner peripheral hollow hub portion to enter the hub of said upper piece with a tight fit when aid pieces are assembled to frictionally hold said pieces together in operative relation, the outer peripheral flange of the lower piece being aper tured to receive the boss of said upper piece to prevent relative rotation of said pieces when assembled, and said lower piece having a horizontal annular shoulder projecting from said inner hub and constituting the sole seat means for the core of the tape spool to support said spool above the inner'surface of the ring-like bottom of said lower piece.

WILLARD E. GERBING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

